<p>I also think many people here are forgetting that SAT prep-courses are more of a cultural norm than an indicator of socio-economic status or ambition. At the University of Michigan, 80% of the students could afford taking a prep course. 60% of Michigan students come from households with 6 figure+ incomes. And half of the remaining students from from families that are relatively well off anyway, certainly capable of shelling out $2,000 for a prep course. And there is no questioning the ambition of Michigan students. 35% of them go straight to graduate school upon graduation and another 25% or end up going to graduate school 2-5 years after earning their undergraduate degrees. According to the WSJ feeder school survey, Michigan was ranked #18 in nation among research universities. </p>
<p>And yet, despite the fact that students at the university of Michigan are among the wealthiest and clearly ambitious, very few of them actually take SAT prep courses. </p>
<p>Clearly, the SAT prep course is a cultural phenomenon that is far more prominent in the East Coast than anywhere else in the nation.</p>